Getting enough sleep over time is essential for good health. It can have a major impact on the way you think, act, work, learn and interact with others. Sleep is just as important for overall wellness as diet and exercise. It helps to promote healthy brain activity and maintain good health in general.
For children and adolescents, sleep is also key to proper growth and development. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate, is a stimulant that can prevent you from getting the restful sleep you need. Lack of sleep or not getting enough sleep can lead to mood swings in adults and tantrums or problems getting along with others in children. Sleep hygiene is a general term for practices and behaviors that influence the quality and duration of sleep.
Mental health issues such as depression are closely linked to poor sleep quality and sleep disorders. Sleep deprivation can also have a negative effect on the heart and vascular system due to increased production of certain proteins associated with heart disease. Doctors can provide valuable information about sleep health and hygiene, as well as test for a sleep disorder. People who report an average total sleep time of five hours per night are more likely to become obese than those who sleep seven to eight hours a night. Studies have shown that the risk of having a car accident increases significantly with each hour of lost sleep.
People with anxiety and depression are more likely to have lower sleep scores than those without anxiety or depression. Drinking alcohol can result in restless, low-quality sleep due to nighttime awakenings and less time spent on deep sleep. Nicotine is a stimulant, so smokers may wake up several times a night due to nicotine withdrawal. Not getting enough restful sleep can make you feel tired and increase your risk of various diseases and health problems. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the national leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders.
Sleeping well has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and memory performance in both children and adults. It has also been linked to lower levels of obesity due to increased appetite when not getting enough restful sleep. Finally, sleeping well has been shown to improve academic performance in children, teens, and young adults. An analysis of 36 studies with more than 1 million participants revealed that sleeping too little (less than 5 hours) or just under 6 hours increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 48% and 18%, respectively. Getting enough restful sleep is essential for good health.
It can affect your thinking, behavior, work performance, learning ability, and interactions with others. It helps promote healthy brain activity and maintain good health in general. For children and adolescents, it is also key for proper growth and development. Sleep hygiene is an important factor in getting enough restful sleep. Mental health issues such as depression are closely linked to poor quality sleep or sleep disorders.
Sleep deprivation can also have a negative impact on the heart and vascular system due to increased production of certain proteins associated with heart disease. People who report an average total sleep time of five hours per night are more likely to become obese than those who get seven to eight hours a night. People with anxiety or depression are more likely to have lower sleep scores than those without these conditions. Drinking alcohol can result in restless, low-quality sleep due to nighttime awakenings and less time spent on deep sleep. Finally, sleeping well has been shown to improve academic performance in children, teens, young adults, as well as reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Getting enough restful sleep is essential for good health.
Doctors can provide valuable information about sleep health, hygiene practices that influence quality of restful sleep, as well as test for any potential sleep disorders. The National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the national leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. Make sure you get enough restful sleep every night for optimal physical health as well as mental wellbeing.
